ABSTRACT
Many drugs used to treat cancer interfere with synthesis of DNA and/or RNA, or the synthesis and/or function of cell cycle regulatory molecules, resulting in cell death (due to direct cytotoxicity or to programmed cell death – apoptosis) or inhibition of cell proliferation. These drug effects are not confined to malignant cells, and many anti-cancer agents are also toxic to normal dividing cells, particularly those in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, gonads, skin and hair follicles. The newest, socalled ‘molecularly targeted’, anti-cancer agents target ligands or receptors or pivotal molecules in signal transduction pathways involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis or apoptosis.
